Favorites ascending. Photo: Gruber Images.
As many of you know, I write a monthly column for Cyclist Magazine where I answer Dear Abby-esque questions, and the most recent query pertained to whether I consider the Tour the best race of the year, or whether it’s an over-publicized circus. The question made me realize something about myself: I have a weariness around the Tour de France not unlike a romantic whose heart has been broken one too many times.
The fact is, as much as I prefer a race like Paris-Roubaix or the Giro d’Italia to the mid-summer shit show that is the Tour de France, nothing gets my anticipation going quite the way the Tour does, which is undeniably the pinnacle of the season; all the classifications and stages are prestigious enough that racers of all sorts are all arriving at the start in peak form. There is a promise of hard racing from day one, but the first week consists mostly of me worrying about the big favorites crashing out. As soon as we get through that mess, my heart is usually broken on the first day in the mountains, when the favorite takes a decisive lead and the rest of the race is most about stages than the GC.
At least, these are the dreads of a man who lived through the Indurain and Armstrong eras of racing.
Nevertheless, the Tour always manages to seduce me, and this year is no different. Maybe this year, she won’t be such a cruel lover. And, maybe this year, I won’t make horrible picks in the VSP. Just maybe, just maybe. You know the drill; get your picks in by the time the clock goes to zero, and you get some swap options on the rest day. Good luck!
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Wishful thinking, mostly
Hmm, I've very curious to see how I personally react to the Tour this year. With a 14 month old on hand, job, wife, grad school, etc. I barely have time to ride, much less watch cycling. I hardly paid attention to the Giro. I almost feel guilty that I'm not that into watching pro cycling these days. But, I've always been a person who tries out new things, can become immersed, then moves on. I hope this never happens with my joy of riding, but I wonder if the Tour will lure me back in. We'll see.
Kicks off on Canada Day, nice one for our northern buddies! I was on Prince Edward Island five years ago on my honeymoon. Damn, I loved the Gentle Island.
@Ron
Ron, if you don't know about it, steephill.tv sounds like your answer. Lots of clips, highlights, photos, links to articles. The best place to go for one-stop Tour coverage. You could fit it in to your crazy scheduler somewhere!
Here goes the usual shite guesswork. I just want a clean, competitive race with no accidents. A few more TT kms would be nice, but Prudhomme hates TTs despite the fact that the Giro is screaming at him that it makes for a better race.
I'll go way out on a limb and predict another green jersey for Pinchy.
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If you are watching on Sunday when it goes through Henri-Chapelle watch out for a bunch of folk in vintage kit. L'eroica Limburg are doing a ride over there from Valkenburg to watch it go through. I should be there hopefully, in Brooklyn colours.
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@chris
@sthilzy
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I guess as a Brit I should be rooting for Froomey/Sky but the last few months shenanegins make me not want to see another tour dominated by the Sky Train.
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